We all know that the economy spinning downward and as I write this, the Dow just fell 9,000 as stocks extend declines.  Christmas is coming, but parents are dealing with high prices for everyday items such as gas and food, and some have lost their jobs.  If parents buy their children even just one less toy each this holiday season, retailers will feel the impact, experts say.  So, let’s talk about it: How will the economy’s turmoil affect your toy buying this holiday season?  Do you still... Read Full Story

Last week a couple of people from Bust Magazine attended a My Little Pony party at the Chelsea Art Museum.  All of Hasbro’s My Little Ponies were in one room with the wine and food, so that was the first stop on the party train.  In another room were the ‘25 Ponies for 25 Years‘ - ponies created by pop culture celebs to be auctioned off by CharityFolks.com in support of Give Kids The World Village.  Check out some of my favorite designs: Designers: 1. Toki Doki 2.Kimora Lee Simmons 3... Read Full Story

It’s hard to believe that GUND has been around for over a century!  Since 1898, GUND has been creating unique, high quality teddy bears and other plush animals.  GUND is the leading soft toy manufacturer in the U.S.   German immigrant Adolf Gund founded the company in 1898 in Norwalk, Connecticut, and GUND was one of the first companies to design and produce teddy bears in the early 1900’s. GUND’s trademarked under-stuffing technique makes their plushes extra soft and huggable.  GUND has... Read Full Story

Retro toy, meet modern technology in the iBlock Speaker!  Relive your childhood with these iPod speakers that are designed to resemble the colorful building blocks from our childhood.  These little beauties deliver very rich and clear sound that is loud enough for portable parties.  The small size makes them easy to take along on trips, as you can slip them easily in your pocket or bag.  They use the speaker in your iPod, so no cord or batteries are necessary.  Another cool feature of this... Read Full Story

These aren’t exactly toys, but they are the perfect gift for any man who loves toy cars.  Say goodbye to boring old cufflinks - the Toy Wheel and Tire Cufflinks make getting dressed up fun!  They add a spark of adventure and youth to any look.  Who says that work and play have to be separate? There are four different styles, all of which have the silver base.  They cost between $25 and $35.  I first discovered these playful cufflinks on Style Guru. Read Full Story

For the past couple of days I’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my newest favorite plush toys - Plaja Pets!  Jason from Small World Toys was kind enough to send me a bunch of the mini versions and two of the large versions to review.  I didn’t know what to expect, as I wasn’t sure what toy I was going to receive to review from Small World Toys.  So I was more than just a bit surprised to open the box and see plush animals with detached heads and tails! The award-winning Plaja Pets... Read Full Story

Join the Fashion Angels as they travel around the world! These magnetic playsets are perfect for fun for kids ages 4+ on the go.  Each collectible magnetic tin comes with 80 magnetic fashions, 4 scenes and a storage pouch, so your child can spend hours creating fashionable ensembles without losing pieces along the way. Read Full Story

  I read an interesting article on The News & Observer regarding a new series of games released by Hasbro that help preschool-age children improve their social skills.  The series includes three games that focus on different lessons: sharing, listening and good manners.  They follow a group of kids in a fictional town called Noodleboro as they navigate tough social situations.  Players are rewarded not for a particular dice roll but rather for listening carefully, sharing tokens with friends... Read Full Story

Since it’s Friday I feel like going bananas and just monkeying around.  Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved having monkey stuffed animals and toys.  They are both cute and hilarious creatures.  Here are some fun monkey toys to keep you entertained for the weekend. Mambo Sr. Monkey Plush This stuffed animal by Gund is uber-cute and the perfect cuddle buddy.  Mambo Sr. is sure to cheer up any space, with his banana in hand.  The stuffed animal measures 14″.  Ollie Orangutan Ollie Orangutan will... Read Full Story

Well as you know I’ve covered the Bratz/Barbie case and the latest news in the case, and now the jury has reached a verdict: Mattel has been awarded $100 million in its case against MGA.  The question still at hand: Will MGA be able to continue selling Bratz products?  This question will be decided upon at a later hearing by US District Judge Stephen Larson  Read the full story here: www.ToyNewsMag.com Read Full Story